Sewing machine



April 16, 1946. N. E. COLEGROVE 2,398,697

SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l firm/MEX;

April-16, N. E. COLEGRO/{IE 2,398,697

SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR./VH7'HH/V/L E (GAG/Q0145 BY Patented Apr. 16, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT.OFFICE SEWING MACHINE Nathaniel E. Colegrove, Cleveland, Ohio assignorto Sears, Roebuck & Company, Chicago, IlL, a corporation of New YorkApplication December 22, 1944, Serial No. 569,299 Claims. (01. 112 260)This invention relates to .a sewing machine and more particularly to asewing machine of the type which is convertible from a fiat top bedmachine for performing plain or flat sewing operations on flat articlesto a cylindrical arm sewing machine for performing darning operations ontubular articles such as sleeves, stockings and the like.

In sewing machines for performing plain or flat sewing operations onfiat articles there is usually provided a plane bed plate over which thework or material passes during the sewing, and in the case of thedrophead type of sewing machine the bed plate when the machine is beingoperated is so located as to be substantially flush with the top of thetable of the sewing machine cabinet. lhis bed plate practicallyprohibits using the machine to sew or darn tubular articles. Thereforesewing machines have been designed so that a substantial portion of theflat bed plate may be removed and laid aside to expose a relativelynarrow cylindrical or tubular arm, bed or horn lying below the bed plateand enclosing the sewing mechanism, and said arm, bed or horn providesthe requisite work surface for tubular articles such as sleeves,stockings and the like. In the case of the drophead type of sewingmachine the head is elevated to a second or raised operative positionrelative to the cabinet when functioning on tubular articles.

The type of sewing machine just referred to is known as a convertibletype machine and. the

present invention is applicable thereto. Heretofore the flat bed platewhich has been removed to expose the relatively narrow cylindrical ortubular arm or horn lying below it has been completely detachable fromthe sewing machine head and when said bed plate is removed it must belaid aside with the ever present likelihood that it may be misplaced orlost.

An object of the present invention is to provide in a convertible typesewing machine a bed plate which is operatively connected at all timesto thesewing machine head but which plate can be moved from itsoperative position for plain or fiat sewing into an inoperative positionto expose the cylindrical or tubular arm, bed or horn when it is desiredto use the sewing machine for daming or other operations on tubulararticles.

Another object is to provide a convertible type sewing machine whereinthe user of the machine can convert the same with facility from acondition for plain or fiat sewing operations to one for darning orother operations on tubular articles. A further object is to provide-ina convertible type sewing machine a bed plate which is alwaysmechanically connected to the sewing machine head but which in sewingmachines of the drop head type will not when being moved frominoperative position to closed or operative position interfere with ordamage the cabinet on which the drophead type sewing machine is mounted.

Further and additional objects and advantages not hereinbefore specifiedwill become apparent hereinafter during the detailed description of anembodiment of the invention which is to follow.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a sewing machine of the dropheadconvertible type and shows the head of the machine in raised positionrelative to the cabinet with the flat bed plate in closed or operativeposition for performing flat or plain sewing operations, the open orinoperative position of the bed plate being indicated by dash lines.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the sewing machine cabinet and afront elevational view of the head of the drophead sewingmachine, saidhead being shown in its most upward raised operative position but withthe fiat bedplate shown as still in closed operative position asdistinguished from open or inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in transverse section and partly in endelevation with the head shown in the position it occupies in Fig. 2; theflat bed plate being shown in full lines in closed position and in dashlines in open or inoperative position, and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrates the flat bed platemoved to open or inoperative position so as to expose the cylindrical ortubular arm, bed or horn upon which daming or other operations may beperformed on tubular articles.

The invention is applicable to a portable convertible type sewingmachine or to a drophead convertible type sewing machine or to any othertype convertible sewing machine. The invention is'illustrated anddescribed herein by way of example only and not by way of limitation asapplied to the drophead convertible type sewing machine.

The cabinet C for the drophead convertible type sewing machine shownhereinmay be of conventional construction well understood in the art andincludes the end walls Ill, front wall II and rear wall I! as well asthe usual legs (not shown) secured to said walls. Ordinarily doors (notshown) will be provided at the front of the cabinet to provide access tothe interior thereof as is well understood in the art. A top or table I3is secured to the upper edges of the walls 'leaf i4 is provided whichpartially fills said opening and said leaf has its inner longitudinaledge provided with a shoulder II for a purpose later to be explained.The opposite longitudinal edge of the leaf N is hingedly connected tothe top or table i3 by hinge means It as will be well understood in theart, and said leaf I4 is normally urged in an upward direction by springmeans (not shown) secured to the interior of the cabinet and engagingthe under side of the leaf l4 as is usual in cabinet constructions forthe drophead type of sewing machines. In order to positively support theleaf N in its lower position suitable stops may be secured to theunderside of the top or table l3, as is common in cabinet constructionsof this type. It will be understood that a cover; not shown, may behingedly connected to the left hand side of the table or top [3 asviewed in Fig. 1. and said cover can be swung over the table or top andthe opening therein when the sewing machine head is in its idle positionwithin the cabinet, or it can be swung outwardly in an extension of thetable or top it when the sewing machine head is in an active or sewingposition. This arrangement is conventional and well understoodand forthat reason and the further reason that it forms no part of the presentinvention it has not been illustrated herein.

In the drawings there is illustrated a sewing machine head of-theconvertible drophead type which can be used for plain or flat sewingoperations on a flat work bed or plate or can be used for darning orsimilar operations on a cylindrical or tubular arm, work bed or horn.

The sewing machine head comprises a bas H of generally rectangularbox-like construction and having at its upper side a flat surface It.The flat surface l8 projects laterally at each longitudinal side of thebase I! to provide flanges it. with the front flange l 9 adapted tocoopera e with the shoulder ii of the leaf i4 when the sewing machinehead is in the active position for flat sewing operations and at whichtime the surface I8 is substantially flush with the table or top. Thestandard or gooseneck of the head is indicated at 20 and extendsupwardly from the surface is of the base I! as is usual in sewingmachine constructions.

A sub-baseZl is secured to the lower side or bottom of the base i! bymeans of flanges 22 extending along the longitudinal upper edges of thesub-base 2i and rigidly connected to the flanges Ila at the lowerlongitudinal edges of the base l'l by suitable securing means such asscrews, rivets or the like not shown.

A tubular or cylindrical work support,'hom, arm or bed 23 extends fromthe left hand end of the base I], as viewed in Fig. 4, and has its freeend underlying the needle and presser mechanisms carried bythe standardor gooseneck 2B and said free end of the horn or bed 23 is provided withthe stitching and feed mechanisms as will be well understood. Thecylindrical or tubular work support, arm, horn or bed 23 and the base I!house the motor and drive for the feed and stitching mechanisms as willbe well understood in theart. The tubular support 23 is provided on itsupper side with a flat surface 24, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3, andwhich surface is substantially coplanular with the surface ll! of thebase l'i.

When the sewing machine head is in its active position for flat sewingth surface I8 of the base I1 is substantially flush with the uppersurface of the table or top 13 and the leaf I4 with the front shoulder I9 engaging the' shoulder l5 of the leaf. At this time a bed plate, laterto be referred to, is arranged in an extension of the surface l8 of thebase and fills the remainder of the opening in the table or top, saidbed plate being flush with and forming an extension of the flat topsurface 24 of the tubular or cylindrical arm or horn 23 and of the fiatsurface 18 of the base ll. When the sewing machine head is in its activeposition for tubular sewing or darning operations the base plate isdisplaced to expose the arm or horn 23 and the head stands elevatedrelative to the top or table is of the cabinet and in a position whereinthe underside of the front flange 22 of the sub-base 2| rests upon theshoulder lb of the leaf H as clearly indicated in Fig. 3. At this timethe tubular work bed, arm or horn 23 is located above the level of thetable is and in a position where tubular articles can be passedthereover and sewing operations performed thereon.

The sewing machine head may be connected to the cabinet for raising andlowering the same to and from its two active positions and its idleposition by any well known means for such purpose as, for example. themeans disclosed in the copending application of Charles E. Colegrove,Serial No. 556,696, flied October 2, 1944.

The flat bed plate previously referred to and upon which plain or fiatsewing operations are performed embodies the novel features of thepresent invention. Heretofore in the convertible type of sewing machinethe fiat bed plate has been completely detachable from the sewingmachine head when it is desired to use the cylindrical or tubular workbed, arm or horn of the machine for daming or other operations ontubular articles. In accordance with the present invention the majorportion of the flat bed plate always is mechanically connected to thesewing machine head. Heretofore in the convertible type sewing machinesthe removable flat bed plate was com pletely detachable from the sewingmachine head when the machine was conditioned for sewing operations upontubular articles. The prior arrangement often results in the fiat bedplates being lost or damaged and also the completely detachable flat bedplates are not positioned and removed with the facility of the bed plateof the present invention. In accordance with the present invention theflat bed plate is constituted in large part by two movable portionswhich are mechanically connected to the base I! and in the illustratedembodiment are in the form of wing-like elements which are hingedlyconnected to the base II to swing about a vertical axis from a positionwherein they enclose the cylindrical or tubular arm or horn 23, exceptfor the flat upper surface 24 thereof, to an open position wherein saidhorn or arm is fully exposed.

The wings or movable portions of the flat bed plate are in transversesection of angular configuration and comprise horizontally extendingparts 26 and vertically extending parts 26. The

wings are provided at their right hand ends, as viewed in the drawings,with vertically extending bosses 21 which mount pintles 28, the oppositeaseaee':

ends of which pintles are received in bearing openings formed in theflanges l3 and Ila of the base II. when the wings are swung to theiroperative position, indicated by full lines in the drawings, thehorizontal parts 25 thereof are flush with the flat upper surface 24 ofthe tubular arm or horn 23 and provide with said flat upper surface acontinuous flat work bed plate or support. The opening in the table ortop of the cabinet will be almost completely filled by the upper surface24 of the horn 23, the horizontal parts 25 of the wings and the flatsurface it of the base II. It

will be noted that the wings when in closed or operative positionterminate at a transverse line which is adjacent to the sewingmechanism, thus leaving the left hand portion of the opening to befilled or closed by a removable plate 29. This plate completes the fiatbed plate and is provided for the purpose of affording access to thebobbin case and the other elements of the sewing mechanism as will bereadily understood. The plate 29 is held in assembled relation with theleft hand end of the wings by connecting means 30 indicateddiagrammatically in Fig. 1. The plate 28 is similar to removable platesheretofore used to afford access to the sewing mechanism and can besecured in position in any desired well known manner.

The horizontal parts 25 of the wings are extended to providelongitudinal flanges 25a which wheh the wings are closed constitute anoffset extension of the flanges IQ of the base H with the front flange25a adapted to engage and be supported by the shoulder ii of the leaf itof the cabinet.

Suitable latch means are provided for holding the wings in closed oroperative position and a form that said means may take is illustrated inthe drawings. The horizontal parts 25 of the wings are provided on theirundersides with downwardlyextending bosses 3| .which have threadedopenings into which pivot pins 32 are screwed. The pins 32 rockabl mountlatches 33 which extend when the wings are closed through horizontallongitudinall disposed open ings 34 in the diametrically opposite sidesof the arm 23. Keeper pins 3-5 are mounted within the arm 23 and saidpins cooperate with the inner ends of the latches 33. Said latches 33are provided at their inner ends with arcuate slots 38 and said slotscommunicate with openings 31. When the wings are closed the latches33-are moved by their handle portions 38 which project tially fromadjacent the hinged ends of the wings to the free ends thereof, Thepurpose of the inclined lower edges of the parts 23' of the wings is toprovide clearance and eliminate possible interference between the wingsand the cabinet when the sewing machine head is being lowered toinactive position within the cabinet.

It will be understood that when the sewing machine head is lowered froman active position to an inactive position within the cabinet, it isnecessary first to raise the head slightly and then to raise the leaf Nto provide clearance for the passage of the. head into the cabinet.Unless the front wing is fully closed the leaf it cannot be elevated.The rear edge of the opening in the table or top of the cabinet has onlythrough openings in the vertical parts 23 of the wings to a positionwherein the keeper pins 35 can pass through the openings 31 and into thearcuate slots 36 of the latches 33, whereupon the latches are moved inthe proper direction to cause the wings to 'be drawn tightly against thearm or horn 23. When it is desired to move the wings to open positionand fully disclose the arm or horn 23 the latches 33 are manually movedby the handle portions 38 to disengage the inner ends of said latchesfrom the keeper pins 35, whereupon the wings can be swung outwardly andbaekwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown inFig. 4. The wing are held in this latter position by means of springretaining members 39 secured to the sides of the base I1 and engagingshoulders formed on the bosses 21 of the wings, thus the danger of thewings swinging about their axes through vibration or otherwise when notdesired is eliminated.

It will be noted that the lower edges 40 of the vertical parts 26 areupwardly inclined substanslight clearance with respect to the rear edgeof the head, it being understood that the means carried by the cabinetfor raising and lowering the head is located adjacent to the rear edgeof the opening. Consequently should the wing at the rear of the head bein partly open position when the head is being lowered into the cabinetit might prevent such operation or cause damage to the head or cabinet.

The vertical parts 23 of the wings are at the outside and spaced fromthe body of the sewing machine head. The inclined or tapered lower edge40 of the rear wing will cooperate with the rear edge of the opening inthe table or top. if the wing is partly open when the head is beinglowered into the cabinet, to producea turning movement that acts toswing the wing into fully closed position. Thus damage to the head orcabinet is avoided.

It will be noted that the wings, particularly the upper longitudinaledges thereof, are offset relative to the upper longitudinal edges ofthe base I'I, wherefore the wings may be swung through an arc of from aclosed position, paralleling the horn or arm 23 to an open positionagainst the base I1.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustratedand described herein it will be understood that the invention issusceptible of various modifications and adaptations within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention. I claim:

1. In a sewing machine head of the convertible type including a basemounting a gooseneck and having a tubular arm projecting from an endthereof with its free end underlying the sewing mechanism of thegooseneck; means cooperating withthe upper surface of said arm to form aflat work bed, and means operatively and movably interconnecting saidfirst means with said base to enable said first means while sointerconnected with said base to be moved from cooperative positionrelative to said arm to an inoperative position wherein said arm isexposed.

2. In a sewing machine head of the convertible type including a basemounting a gooseneck and having atubular arm projecting from an endthereof with its free end underlying the sewing mechanism of thegooseneck: separate members positionable in cooperation with said baseto form having a tubular arm projecting from an end thereoflwith itsfree end underlying the sewing mechanism of the gooseneck; separatemembers positionable in cooperation with said arm to form a fiat workbed, and means hingedly connecting said members to said base to swingfrom their cooperative position relative to said arm to an inoperativeposition wherein said arm is exposed.

4. In a sewing machine head of the convertible type including a basemounting a gooseneck and having a tubular arm projecting from an endthereof with its free end underlying the sewing mechanism of thegooseneck, separate members ositionable in cooperation with said arm toform a fiat work bed, and means hingedly connecting said members to saidbase adjacent the front and rear thereof to swing about vertical axesfrom their cooperative position relative to said am to inoperativepositions against the front and rear of thebase whereby said arm isfully exposed.

5. In a sewing machine head of the convertible type including a basemounting a gooseneck and having a tubular arm projecting from an endthereof with its free end underlying the sewing mechanism of thegooseneck; separate members of angular cross-section and having ahorizontal portion and a vertical portion, and means hingedly connectingsaid members to said base to swing from positions wherein the horizontalportions thereof cooperate with said arm to form a flat work bed toinoperative positions wherein said arm is fully exposed.

6. In a sewing machine head of the convertible type including a basemounting a gooseneck and having a tubular arm projecting from an endthereof with its free end underlying the sewing mechanism of thegooseneck; separate members of angular cross-section and havinghorizontal portions and vertical portions, and means hingedly connectingone end of said members to said base to swing about vertical axes frompositions wherein the horizontal portions of said members cooperate withsaid arm to form a flat work bed to inoperative positions wherein saidmembers are substantially in contact with-the front and rear sides ofsaid base and said arm is exposed.

7. In a sewing machine head of the convertible type including a basemounting a gooseneck and having a tubular arm projecting from an endthereof with its free end underlying the sewing mechanism of thegooseneck; means cooperating with the upper surface of said arm to forma flat work bed, means operatively and movably inter= connecting saidmeans with said base toenable said means to be moved while sointerconnected with said base from cooperative position relative to saidarm to an inoperative position wherein said arm is exposed, and meansfor latching said assess? first named means to said am when incooperative position. v

8. In w. sewing machine head of the convertible type including a basemounting a gooseneck and having a tubular arm projecting from an endthereof with its free end underlying the sewing mechanism of thegooseneck; separate members of angular cross-section having horizontalportions and vertical portions; means hingedly connecting said membersto said base to swing from positions wherein said horizontal portionscooperate with said arm to form a flat work bed to inoperative positionswherein said arm is exposed, and cooperating means carried by saidmembers and arm for latching said members in said first mentionedpositions.

9. In a sewing machine head of the convertible type including a basemounting a sooseneck and having a tubular arm projecting from an endthereof with its free end underlying the sewing mechanism of thegooseneck; a pair of members of angular cross-section having horizontalportions and vertical portions, means hingedly connecting said membersat one end to the front and rear of said base respectively to swing fromposi-- tions wherein the horizontal portions of said members cooperatewith said arm to form a. flat work bed to inoperative positions whereinsaid arm is exposed, and latches rockably mounted on the underside ofsaid horizontal portions and provided with handles extending throughopenings in said vertical portions, and means carried by said arm andcooperating with said latches to latch said members to said arm in thepositions wherein the horizontal portions of the members cooperate withthe arm.

10. In a sewing machine head of the convertible type including a basemounting a gooseneck and having a tubular arm projecting from an endthereof with its free end underlying the sewing mechanism of thegooseneck, a pair of members of angular cross-section having horizontalportions and vertical portions and adapted in one position to extendalong the front and rear of said arm respectively with the horizontalportions forming therewith a flat work bed and with the verticalportions forming an offset continuation of the front and rear sides ofthe base, means hingedly connecting said members at one end to said baseto swing on a vertical axis away from said am to expose the same and toa position wherein said members respectively substantially contact thefront and rear sides of the base, the lower edges of the verticalportions of said members being upwardly inclined substantially from thepoint of the hinged connection to the base toward the free ends of saidmembers.

NATHANIEL E. COLEGROVE.

